WAR EFFORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 97, 24 April 1940, Page 8

WAR EFFORT.

HELP REQUIRED. * NEED FOR CO-OPERATION. i APPEAL BY THE MAYOR. | Ihe urgent need f6r a closing of the ranks in the support and co-operation citizens accord the nation's war effort in its varying phases, was stressed by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, in an interview to-day. '"Whilst I can pay only the highest tribute to the people of Auckland, particularly the business men, for their never-failing generosity to all appeals for funds on behalf of worthv causes," said the Mayor, '"it is noticeable to these pood folk who labour cm the organising and administrative sides, that it is usually the same group of citizens who comprise the committees and shoulder all the responsibility of controlling the campaigns and collecting the fund*. "In these troublesome times T feel I have a duty to appeal to all citizens to rally to the standard of community service and do their bit in the various war activities to which, as libertv-loving people, we are committed, and not leave the burden to be shouldered by a willing few. The duties are becoming more and more onerous, with the result that an increasing measure of assistance from a widening field of interests is absolutely essential. I ask for help from every quarter, because I know, from my experience, that there is room for everybody to assist.

*'Tt is only fair to those who give so freely of their time and their energy, that their efforts should be reinforced in the direction I have indicated. In the great struggle upon which we are engaged, may I suggest that our watchwords should be. 'Community service and sacrifice to an unqualified extent.'

"With reference to the current appeal for funds for the sick and wounded and prisoners gf war, I should like to emphasise that a substantial amount of money will have to be raised. It may well be that our greatest effort will l>e along the lines of alleviating the suffering of those who are de-tined to take the full shock of our defence and receive the honourable scars of liattle. in the endeavour they are making to assist to rid civilisation of the ghastly scourge of Nazi barbarism. However successful this particular campaign may be. and however self-sacrificing may be our endeavours on liehalf of the sick and wounded. Ihev cannot match the sacrifices of those who risk their all that liberty for the whole world shall prevail.

'"Those of iik who are not privileged to serve in the front line should not need to l»e reminded of our duty on the home front. -Is it not to l>e found clearly ex-pressed in a paraphrase of history's most famous signal: 'Humanity expects every non-combatant this day, and every day, to do his duty to the sick and wounded."